Proof-of-service (POS) workflow customization via task extension

• US 20060242302A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, Arthur P., Hale, Brian M.
• Application Number:
  US11/152,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Task extensions for a proof-of-service (POS) system allow easy customization without requiring modification to the POS application itself. Current preferences capability is used to specify new tasks, which are downloaded to the device during an administrative sync process. The new workflows are detected at runtime. This provides a way to collect additional customer-defined data associated with a given task. Ideally, task extensions could be used with both the existing tasks (delivery and pickup) and with new tasks that would be defined by a customer. Data collected by the workflow extension is returned as an XML-tagged string of data elements to the legacy system, which would be responsible for parsing the data. Some rudimentary data validation on the client may be included by adding attributes to the XML-tags that define the UI'"'"'s data collection elements.

Claims

1. A method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system, comprising:

providing at least one editable form defined using a scripting language; and

transmitting said scripting language to a client via configuration properties.

2. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein said task workflow extension comprises:

a retrace workflow process.

3. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein said task workflow extension comprises:

a linear workflow process.

4. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein said task workflow extension further comprises:

a combination of linear and retrace workflow processes.

5. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, further comprising:

directing entry by a user of required information via a linear workflow process; and

directing entry by a user of optional information via a retrace workflow process.

6. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a preview feature to allow preview of an appearance and a behavior of a form currently being edited.

7. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said proof of service system includes a Pocket PC device.

8. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one editable form is editable using an edit task form.

9. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one editable form is editable using an edit label form.

10. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one editable form is editable using an edit textbox form.

11. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one editable form is editable using an edit popup form.

12. The method of providing a task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one editable form is editable using an edit button form.

13. A task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system, comprising:

means for providing at least one editable form defined using a scripting language; and

means for transmitting said scripting language to a client via configuration properties.

14. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, wherein said task workflow extension comprises:

a retrace workflow process.

15. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, wherein said task workflow extension comprises:

a linear workflow process.

16. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, wherein said task workflow extension comprises:

a combination of linear and retrace workflow processes.

17. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for directing entry by a user of required information via a linear workflow process; and

means for directing entry by a user of optional information via a retrace workflow process.

18. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing a preview feature to allow preview of an appearance and a behavior of a form currently being edited.

19. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, wherein:

said proof of service system includes a Pocket PC device.

20. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an edit task form to edit said at least one editable form.

21. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an edit label form to edit said at least one editable form.

22. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an edit textbox form to edit said at least one editable form.

23. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an edit popup form to edit said at least one editable form.

24. The task workflow extension feature in a proof of service system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an edit button form to edit said at least one editable form.